Charles W. Marshall Video Technology Center & Television Studio

The Video Technology Center (VTC) was created from a vision of Charles Marshall. Marshall began his teaching career at Ladue Horton Watkins in 1971 as an Art teacher. Over the years he taught several Fine Arts classes such as jewelry making, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, painting, pottery and various craft classes. His interests grew into the television production field due to his frequent use of the Broadcast Journalism equipment.

As a result of his use of the broadcast equipment, he realized the need for a new and expanded facility to better teach students the art of creating video, to be used as a teaching and communication tool for the district. Marshall began creating plans for a new television production facility equipped with a master control room, studio control room, TV studio, audio studio, videoconference room and an animation and video editing computer lab. He hoped the administration would be as interested as he in the possibility of such a facility.

Indeed the Video Technology Center was approved and completed in 1989. His position changed to the Director of the VTC. “In the Limelight” was Marshall’s first student produced news-magazine style program created by his independent video assistants and was shown on local cable. His assistants also worked in the graphics lab and videotaped school events. A special accomplishment of Marshall’s was an area wide videoconferencing uplink for the Missouri State Mock Trial program. Several states were able to receive the broadcast.

Over the years the Video Technology Center has been used by various high school departments as a teaching tool and a resource for other buildings in the district including the district office. Teachers continue to use the facility to videotape skits, mock trials, language development exercises, re-enactments, broadcast and animation classes. In addition the facility has been used for special speaking engagements, college visits, various partnerships and used in independent films. The Video Technology Center is subsidiary of LHS TV. Ladue View and Ladue Today are filmed in the studio.

Just as Charles Marshall envisioned, the VTC’s capabilities continues to grow and serve the high school and the district community. To visit and learn more about the VTC, click here.